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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
 
| HHMMMM this was kind of an interesting article. I do feed beet pulp. What are peoples opinions on this?
http://holisticequine.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-beet-pulp-toxic-to-ho... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| HERE IS THE ARTICLE instead of just the link...
Is Beet Pulp Toxic to Horses
As a holistic practitioner for more than 12 years, I have assisted more than 100 horse owners with equine diets and nutrition. I have studied and gained quite a bit of experience with equine veterinarian, Dr. Lee Miller, for fifteen years. It is my intention to share my personal experiences, both educational and in the field, regarding what I have learned about feeding beet pulp.
Nutrition and digestive processes affect performance and overall condition. Different feeds break down differently based on the horse. Some of these effects include lameness, arthritis, colic, and other health-related illnesses.
Many times feed companies and veterinarians will recommend beet pulp for COPD horses for added fiber, or as an alternate hay and grass source. Although beet pulp may present no problems in the short-term, there are no significant studies on the long-term effects. Please note that alot of horse owners feed beet pulp with no apparent problems, while other horse owners will have exhausted all treatment protocols and still not know why their horse has loose stools, stifles issues, hip problems.
Not looking at what they are feeding: so let's see what the expert vet in his field says and clear up the beet pulp issue once and for all:
Lon Leiws DVM-Feeding and Nutrition care of the Horse 1982 states quoted :
Excess amounts of oxalates ( form of salt) may be present in these plants-halogeteon, greasewood, BEETS, dock , rhubarb-(Beets =product beet pulp) - If the horse consistently eats theses plants over a LONG extendend period of time, calcium deficency will result. Insoulble oxalate crystals will deposit in the kidneys resulting in kidney damage - Could be the reason for the water molecules trying to flush the kidneys?
Beet pulp originates from sugar industry. It is an insoluble fiber, meaning that it does not interact with the body. It rushes through the intestines taking with it whatever supplements have been given. Simply put, it cannot be digested. It takes four molecules of water for the body to process beet pulp-adding water weight, and making the horse appear heavier. Once beet pulp is removed from the diet, the horse loses weight quickly, leading the owner to believe that the horse needs the beet pulp.
Dr. Joyce Harman of the Harmany Equine Clinic www.harmanyequine.com states that not all sugar can be eliminated from soaking the beets, therefore some remains in the pulp. Sugar contributes to insulin-resistance, and a condition known as Cushing's syndrome.
Like many other crops, sugar beets are treated with an extensive array of herbicides to limit weeds and grasses in the fields. The herbicides are absorbed by the beets. Nothing removes the chemicals from the pulp. In addition, growers top the beet plants with a chemical defoliant to kill back the tops before harvest. These chemicals also end up by-product beet pulp.
Dr. Eleanor Kellon, DMV, says that beet pulp is safe; it is washed with water to remove the solvents. However, the water only removes what is on the outside. The soaking process removes the sugar from the outside, but not the chemicals. Toxins are stored in the pulp not the juice.
Often, if the horse is unable to digest the beet pulp. Their hind-ends "shut down" and become weak. The common complaint being, "my horse has a weak hind-end."
Case in Kentucky - A lady emailed me about her paint that had been seen by vets, chiropractors, etc. to no avail her paint was weak from behind, bad stifles? He was 4yrs old they said arthritis, I said what are you feeding? Turns out she was feeding a product that was mostly beet pulp and rice bran. She took the paint off the feed, then sent a email stating her horse was moving much better and was able to ride him again.
A reputable event trainer, Katie Worley from Rock Solid Training Center, asked me to check her horses. I found was they were all weak in the hind-end, and Katie agreed. After looking at a tag from her feed, we found beet pulp listed as the third ingredient. After Katie took her horses off the beet pulp feed, she called to say they were using their hind-ends, and were much stronger.
Another owner, M.D. Kerns, wrote in to tell me about his horse which had been on beet pulp for nine months. "Although I was very skeptical at the onset, I am now prepared to admit that Bodhi is looking much different and much fit than he did when he was on the other feed. His coat looks good as ever and his waist (loss of all the water trapped in the hind-gut by the beet pulp fiber) is nearly back to its former Thoroughbred elegance and slimness, he is without a doubt the most handsome horse at the farm."
What does this all mean? Ask yourself these questions:
o Does my horse feel weak in the hind end?
o Are his hooves brittle?
o Does it seem like his stifles are weak?
o Does my horse appear to be lacking energy?
o What about the coat? Is it dull?
o Does my horse have loose stools? Are his stools loose or hard?
If you horse has any of these symptoms then:
Try the following for three months. Take your horse off beet pulp, and use good quality hay pellets, or grass hay, remembering to soak in water., for COPD horses- Make sure that your horse has access to free-choice minerals. In addition, read your feed labels. Most of them list "roughage by-products" which can actually contain beet pulp. Take a before and after picture, and really look at the hind-end. Notice how your horse moves after three months. I don't intend to offend anyone with this article if your horse is fine on beet pulp great, but if you are having any of theses symptoms you may take a look at what you are feeding.
Wouldn't you agree that prevention is far cheaper than the cost of treating health problems? We are our horse's caregivers. We owe it to them to be as knowledgeable and informed about what we put into them.
Lorrie Bracaloni is a certified holistic practitioner helping horse owners. Lorrie has received certifications in the following areas of equine health and preventative care: equine lameness and nutrition, acupressure massage and herbology, homeopathics, essential oils, and nutritional reflexology, energy body balancing, equine chiropractic techniques, and muscle injuries and trigger point stress relief therapy. She is currently the holistic consultant for Horsenet Rescue in Mt. Airy, Maryland, helping neglected and abused horses recover to optimal health. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
 
| I feed beet pulp too. Definitley something to reseach. I have fed it for over 3 years and I get compliments on how well my horses look and asked what my feed program is. I don't feed grain with it but a ration balancer. I am defintely not a feed guru but some of her dislikes is what I like about wet molasses free beet pulp, the high fiber and that it moves through them. My horses do not have any of the negative signs that she said to look for. In the summer months they do not get very much at all with all the grazing mine have.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-03-06 8:14 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts.
Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required.
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | I didn't read the article, but beet pulp, like a lot of by-products, is way out of balance in the calcium/phos ratio. It's possible to get a big deficiency, to the point of being fatal. Much more common in cattle being fed distillers products or other by-products, but the possibility exists in horses. Supplemental Phos is important when feeding higher rates of beet pulp. If it's used as a supplement to a grain ration, the grains usually can balance it fairly well.
**Reread what I wrote...edited to correct my statement.
Edited by RockinGR 2014-03-06 12:39 PM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | lindseylou2290 - 2014-03-06 8:37 AM If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts. Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required. I know for a fact our local county extension agent for agriculture knows less about feeding horses than I do. When someone calls him with a question, he calls me.  
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2014-03-06 9:34 AM
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Blessed 
Location: Here | no |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I wouldnt put too much merit on a "holistic" blogger. No real research in the article to support this claim imo. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Most of the evidence is anecdotal, which by itself is okay, but should be backed up by some numbers or a study.
I prefer beet pulp based feeds. When my horses are NOT on it, they are weak in the back end, dull and listless, with bad coats. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I thought the oxilates were in the green parts of the plant. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Lorrie Bracaloni is a certified holistic practitioner helping horse owners. Lorrie has received certifications in the following areas of equine health and preventative care: equine lameness and nutrition, acupressure massage and herbology, homeopathics, essential oils, and nutritional reflexology, energy body balancing, equine chiropractic techniques, and muscle injuries and trigger point stress relief therapy. She is currently the holistic consultant for Horsenet Rescue in Mt. Airy, Maryland, helping neglected and abused horses recover to optimal health.
reasoning being................^^^^^^^
Im all for holistic and natural but...........
we all have "opinions" and mine is differant then hers..
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | 1982 states quoted :
I think maybe things have advanced/researched more since 1982. That being said, I know that my old horse with muscle dystrophy from EPM has never done better in the winter. This year was the first that I fed him soaked beet pulp and the difference has been very noticeable. I am going to keep feeding it.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | This article is not science
that lady has no credentials
Don't believe everything you read on the internet. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Triple Crown posted this on their Facebook account the other day.
We love beet pulp! Do you? Listed below are a few reasons why. Can you add any more to the list?
1. Forage extender during hay shortages
2. Highly digestible- "super fiber!"
3. Low NSC product- (average: 12% NSC)
4. Great fiber source for horses with poor teeth
5. DE (digestible energy) higher than hay and equal to oats with much lower NSC!
6. Provides additional H20 when soaked! |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Beet Pulp is a great addition to the horses diet.. and if soaked or watered down.. adds fluids to the horses gut as well as helps push sand out..and many more reasons to feed it..
people have opinions and blogs.. its just their right to do so... but id not give it ANY merit. |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Water can be toxic if you drink too much. |
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Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | LRQHS - 2014-03-06 11:33 AM Water can be toxic if you drink too much.
What about Vodka? |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | So she quotes something from the 80s
She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year
Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote
I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions
Alison out |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | 3canstorun - 2014-03-06 10:36 AM LRQHS - 2014-03-06 11:33 AM Water can be toxic if you drink too much. What about Vodka?
Vodka too and, most definitely, NyQuil......there's a limit to everything sadly lol. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:37 AM So she quotes something from the 80s She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions Alison out
That's all I needed to hear! The Scientist has spoken.
Jennifer out. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:30 AM This article is not science that lady has no credentials Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
Exactly. I'm all for holoistic, BUT it should stand up to sound scientific scrutiny. I can't stand quackery. |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:30 AM This article is not science that lady has no credentials Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
HEY....It is on the internet so it MUST be true....Bon Jour
Really folks....any blogger can take excerpts from numerous sources "out of context" and make a case for any statement! |
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Blessed
Location: Here | LRQHS - 2014-03-06 10:33 AM Water can be toxic if you drink too much.
LOL I was going to say the same thing |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | 
This |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 11:15 AM
This
AHHHHHH......now I get it lol. |
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Expert
Posts: 2457
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 9:33 AM
lindseylou2290 - 2014-03-06 8:37 AM If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts. Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required. I know for a fact our local county extension agent for agriculture knows less about feeding horses than I do. When someone calls him with a question, he calls me.
Ha! Now that is funny! Perhaps I am spoiled as I live near the state University and we have a specialist in equine nutrition that I've called a few time :) |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | So here's a little info from the ag side on beet pulp....currently the sugar beet industry is trying to cut back on the tonnage of beets and focus greatly on sugar content. What that means is less bulk tonnage more beet sugar concentrate if that makes any sense. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | lindseylou2290 - 2014-03-06 11:17 AM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 9:33 AM lindseylou2290 - 2014-03-06 8:37 AM If you feed too much of any one thing, it can then result in a toxicity of sorts. Do your own research, contact a state extension agent in your local area to help you balance your rations to avoid toxicity. I have fed beet pulp with no bad side issues - but I made sure that my ration was balanced and the horse was getting everything it required. I know for a fact our local county extension agent for agriculture knows less about feeding horses than I do. When someone calls him with a question, he calls me. Ha! Now that is funny! Perhaps I am spoiled as I live near the state University and we have a specialist in equine nutrition that I've called a few time : )
I have to confess our state specialist is fairly knowledgeable. And I'm married to our county Ag agent...he's an excellent row crops guy, but we don't have enough livestock in this area for him to need to be up on feed and forage.  |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | docschic - 2014-03-06 11:21 AM So here's a little info from the ag side on beet pulp....currently the sugar beet industry is trying to cut back on the tonnage of beets and focus greatly on sugar content. What that means is less bulk tonnage more beet sugar concentrate if that makes any sense.
So you're saying in the future beet pulp could be less plentiful? |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 11:30 AM docschic - 2014-03-06 11:21 AM So here's a little info from the ag side on beet pulp....currently the sugar beet industry is trying to cut back on the tonnage of beets and focus greatly on sugar content. What that means is less bulk tonnage more beet sugar concentrate if that makes any sense. So you're saying in the future beet pulp could be less plentiful?
Good possibility....everyone is trying to reduce green house gases before the General Mills and Wal-Marts of the world tell us what we HAVE to do in order for them to do business with us as producers. |
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 Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | I have fed beet pulp off and on over the last few years. I didn't notice anything bad. It did put weight on any hard keepers I had.
But lets look at this with logic. ANY product grown by a commercial grower is going to have pesticides, fertilizers and other products to increase yield. Hay and grain we feed has that too. But all of that is regulated.
There are no specifics in the article. Testing or other scientific reasons why beet pulp might not be healthy...or less healthy than any other forage.
To the person that said it is recommended to feed with alfalfa...I have to wonder why. Calcium and phosphorus needs to be fed in balance of roughly 1.5 to 1 in the total ration of a horse. BP has a 15 to 1 ratio. Alfalfa has a 5 to 1 ratio. Alfalfa is high in calcium and beet pulp is high in calcium. They are very similar in that quality. So if BP and Alfalfa are fed together, they don't compliment each other. They actually amplify the faults they both have. If you feed more than 50% of the total diet's forage in PB's presoaked weight per day, you probably need to supplement with a ration balancer intended for a straight alfalfa diet.
I never used BP to replace forage. I've used it to increase the calory content of the diet without increasing grain in a hard keeper. I could see someone getting in trouble using it as something more than to augment the hay portion of the diet or to replace the grain portion of the diet without the proper supplement. |
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| My advice is to go to a sugar beet processing plant and check it out for yourself. I did and I will never feed beet pulp again.
The amount of chemicals in this stuff is unbelievable. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides used when the plant is growing, heavy chemical agents that they wash the sugar beets in once they are harvested, and heavy chemicals that they process the "pulp" with was enough for me to stop feeding it.
And my horses have done way better. JMHO.......
Do your homework. Go to a sugar beet facility and then make your own decision. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1033
Location: Iowa | I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it! |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Evittranch - 2014-03-06 4:34 PM I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it!
me too :( |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| There was an article doing its rounds on Facebook. Written by a equine vet that said there was no long term negative effects to feeding beet pulp.
I have never fed it, and won't as I don't have to, but I would say creditablility wise, both studies leave out too many unanswered questions.
As for the person who toured the plant, this would be more info I would like to see on all products, is the processing and manufacturing |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Evittranch - 2014-03-06 4:34 PM I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it!
Corn, soybeans, rice, and some alfalfa are GMO as well, and they all use fertilizer and pesticides. What are you going to feed a horse that's not? |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 5:15 PM Evittranch - 2014-03-06 4:34 PM I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it! Corn, soybeans, rice, and some alfalfa are GMO as well, and they all use fertilizer and pesticides. What are you going to feed a horse that's not?
yep, not much out there to chose from that I have found. |
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | phoenix - 2014-03-06 3:33 PM
My advice is to go to a sugar beet processing plant and check it out for yourself. I did and I will never feed beet pulp again.
The amount of chemicals in this stuff is unbelievable. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides used when the plant is growing, heavy chemical agents that they wash the sugar beets in once they are harvested, and heavy chemicals that they process the "pulp" with was enough for me to stop feeding it.
And my horses have done way better. JMHO.......
Do your homework. Go to a sugar beet facility and then make your own decision.
Another case of a person who has no REAL knowledge of the so-called heavy chemicals used in beet processing. They are processed to make sucrose (and food grade juice, etc) and the chemicals used are FDA approved and are used in most processing plants. Additionally, you had better not ever feed ANY kind of processed feed that includes corn, oats, soy bean, etc....all have been sprayed with fertilizer and pesticides....
and YES....I have done my research....in fact, I worked at GPC (Kent Feeds) in the Research Labs for 10 years......just saying..... |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 5:15 PM
Evittranch - 2014-03-06 4:34 PM I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it!
Corn, soybeans, rice, and some alfalfa are GMO as well, and they all use fertilizer and pesticides. What are you going to feed a horse that's not?
You make a good point,
I guess I will keep feeding our home grown feed, and keep my rosé coloured glasses on regarding the ulcer and joint supplements I feed my horses. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Dont forget about the sh!! That is on the feed tag like wheat middlings, distillers grain, and all that other stuff on the bag as i dont feed a processed feed. Athough people may laugh at me but my 19 year old mare has quit cribbing and my geldingmhas stopped stall walking i give a general ration balancer that has vitimans and mimerals and added fat as with what i feed needs added fat. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1033
Location: Iowa | rodeomom3 - 2014-03-06 5:25 PM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-06 5:15 PM Evittranch - 2014-03-06 4:34 PM I also was reading from a "holistic" that beet pulp is crap and filled with all the above plus GMOs!! Makes me sad because I'm a big beet pulp advocate and just bought a big bag not too long ago. Dont know what to do with it! Corn, soybeans, rice, and some alfalfa are GMO as well, and they all use fertilizer and pesticides. What are you going to feed a horse that's not?
Just switched to Renew Gold....they use non GMO ingredients. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Just curious.. Do ya'll put this much thought into what you put into your own mouth? I'll admit... I dont! |
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 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | LRQHS - 2014-03-06 10:39 AM barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:37 AM So she quotes something from the 80s She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions Alison out That's all I needed to hear! The Scientist has spoken.
Jennifer out.
you are so wrong Jennifer. its not Jennifer out. It is the bear out. the bear has not attacked the horse, due to the rock in the stall. Sheesh. read the paragraph.. Bear out........ (lol, sorry, i just couldnt resist) |
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| NJJ - 2014-03-06 6:22 PM phoenix - 2014-03-06 3:33 PM
My advice is to go to a sugar beet processing plant and check it out for yourself. I did and I will never feed beet pulp again.
The amount of chemicals in this stuff is unbelievable. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides used when the plant is growing, heavy chemical agents that they wash the sugar beets in once they are harvested, and heavy chemicals that they process the "pulp" with was enough for me to stop feeding it.
And my horses have done way better. JMHO.......
Do your homework. Go to a sugar beet facility and then make your own decision.
and YES....I have done my research....in fact, I worked at GPC (Kent Feeds) in the Research Labs for 10 years......just saying.....
Interesting comment - but I disagree. When I did the tour of the plant they actually went over the number/types of chemicals that were used in the processing of the sugar beets, so I am not misinformed. Two points to be made here -
1) Sugar beets made into pulp have to go through more chemical "steps" than a lot of other crops
2) I truly don't believe that just because the FDA says a chemical is safe necessarily means that it really is. IJS
BTW - I do not feed processed feeds to my horses. I have an organic farmer that I get corn, oats and barley from and I mix my own feed.
I just believe that people should do their own research and then make a choice based on what indicates for them. That's all.
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| cn1705 - 2014-03-06 7:47 AM
HHMMMM this was kind of an interesting article. I do feed beet pulp. What are peoples opinions on this?
http://holisticequine.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-beet-pulp-toxic-to-ho...
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This article is very true and correct ... it does not go far enough and tell you that horses are not rumens with 4 stomachs that also have difficulty digesting beet pulp.
It also does not tell you that for 1 qt of beet pulp pellets they need to absorb one gallon of water to rehydrate and must be done within 4 hours of feeding to prevent it from going into fermentation. ... and becoming toxic. Beet pulp shredded or pelleted form can store for over 5 years when kept dry.... mold and fermentation begins immediately when wetted down due to the oxygen in the air and water...
It also does not tell you to limit the amount of beet pulp fed due to its high calcium content, to avoid developmental problems in young horses, enteroliths in mature horses and renal calculi in older horses.
Since beet pulp has become such a money maker for the beet industry since they no longer have to pay to send it to the city dump to get rid of it .... and to the horse and cow feed industry as a profit making trash food for animals to up the volume and weight of their high priced feeds..... you are not going to get an honest answer from either of them...
Then you need to know the short and long term affects on the horses organs of the heavy metals that beet pulp contains and the bad affects of removing good metals it takes out of your horses entire system. You need to be a vet and chemist to figure out what supplements you need to add to recover the good metals and the treatments you need to plan for as the horses organs, joints and muscles get loaded with heavy metals.
To get an analysis or beet pulp showing the true content of heavy metals and the chemical treatments used during the sugar processing .... you have to go to Europe to get the honest facts about beet pulp. There is too much money being made from selling beet pulp in the USA and CANADA for them to show the entire analysis they provided 10 years ago. ... like everything else these days ... they only give you the short form analysis ...
Read and enjoy everything they say about cows ... double or triple the problems beet pulp gives horses due to their digestive systems. Look very hard at the true analysis of beet pulp provided in this excellent article ..... save it for future reference ...
http://www.srcoop.com/articles/beetpulp_belgiansummary.pdf
I use one major rule at my barn on feeding beet pulp ... >>>>
IF A RAT WON'T EAT IT ...
I WON'T FEED IT !!
(beet pulp wiki will give you a few solid facts about the unsafe reasons not to be feeding beet pulp )
Whoops ... time to go load up and take some to schooling races that start at 7am ... Have a good day!!
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-03-07 5:15 AM
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Regular
Posts: 84
| BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-03-07 5:06 AM
cn1705 - 2014-03-06 7:47 AM
HHMMMM this was kind of an interesting article. I do feed beet pulp. What are peoples opinions on this?
http://holisticequine.blogspot.com/2013/06/is-beet-pulp-toxic-to-ho...
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This article is very true and correct ... it does not go far enough and tell you that horses are not rumens with 4 stomachs that also have difficulty digesting beet pulp.
It also does not tell you that for 1 qt of beet pulp pellets they need to absorb one gallon of water to rehydrate and must be done within 4 hours of feeding to prevent it from going into fermentation. ... and becoming toxic. Beet pulp shredded or pelleted form can store for over 5 years when kept dry.... mold and fermentation begins immediately when wetted down due to the oxygen in the air and water...
It also does not tell you to limit the amount of beet pulp fed due to its high calcium content, to avoid developmental problems in young horses, enteroliths in mature horses and renal calculi in older horses.
Since beet pulp has become such a money maker for the beet industry since they no longer have to pay to send it to the city dump to get rid of it .... and to the horse and cow feed industry as a profit making trash food for animals to up the volume and weight of their high priced feeds..... you are not going to get an honest answer from either of them...
Then you need to know the short and long term affects on the horses organs of the heavy metals that beet pulp contains and the bad affects of removing good metals it takes out of your horses entire system. You need to be a vet and chemist to figure out what supplements you need to add to recover the good metals and the treatments you need to plan for as the horses organs, joints and muscles get loaded with heavy metals.
To get an analysis or beet pulp showing the true content of heavy metals and the chemical treatments used during the sugar processing .... you have to go to Europe to get the honest facts about beet pulp. There is too much money being made from selling beet pulp in the USA and CANADA for them to show the entire analysis they provided 10 years ago. ... like everything else these days ... they only give you the short form analysis ...
Read and enjoy everything they say about cows ... double or triple the problems beet pulp gives horses due to their digestive systems. Look very hard at the true analysis of beet pulp provided in this excellent article ..... save it for future reference ...
http://www.srcoop.com/articles/beetpulp_belgiansummary.pdf
I use one major rule at my barn on feeding beet pulp ... >>>>
IF A RAT WON'T EAT IT ...
I WON'T FEED IT !!
(beet pulp wiki will give you a few solid facts about the unsafe reasons not to be feeding beet pulp )
Whoops ... time to go load up and take some to schooling races that start at 7am ... Have a good day!!
wow... guess the only thing good for horses is grass and hay???this feed thing is driing me crazy. I also feed beet pulp mainly for the water when there is no grass out. I have lots of rye grass now and I feed alfalfa. I sure wish I knew what is the best thing to do.... I have tried total equine, right now I feed stradedy healthy edge 6 lbs a day. and I have been soaking one scoop of beet pulp and dividing it between 6 horses twice a day. guess I will quit that.
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Written by Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD: (you can research/google her credentials!)
Beet pulp is a by-product of sugar production but for some reason there is more negative and inaccurate information floating around on the internet about beet pulp than any equine feed ingredient you can name. 
Beet pulp is the fibrous portion of the sugar beet below ground root which remains after it has been soaked in hot water to remove the sugar. It has a calorie yield similar to oats but because it is fermented like hay does not produce a blood sugar spike like grains do. Even if the pulp has high residual sugar or had molasses added to it, careful thorough rinsing, soaking and rinsing again can remove that to make it safe even for horses with insulin resistance. Beet pulp can absorb 4 times its dry weight in water, which results in a high volume but low calorie meal and a good way to get extra water and supplements into the horse. It has good protein levels of 9 to 10% and is a good source of calcium. It can help substitute for hay as a fiber source during periods of shortage. Those are the facts. Here are some of the unsubstantiated claims. Myth: Beets are treated with a chemical defoliant to kill the top leaves before they are harvested. Completely untrue. The leaves are removed mechanically. Myth: Beet pulp also contains the leaves and can cause oxalate poisoning. False. There are no leaves in beet pulp and oxalate levels are very low. Myth: Production of the pulp involves many harsh chemicals. Nope. No chemicals are used in the production of the pulp, which is what remains after hot water soaking of the beet roots. The only chemicals involved are low levels of antimicrobials/biocides to control bacterial growth in the sugar water. The most common is hydrogen sulfide, which is also the biocide used to preserve wines. Myth: Beet pulp causes hind end weakness and muscle loss. This doesn’t even make any sense. The person claiming this tries to claim it is because oxalate in beet pulp (see above) ties up calcium and causes the horse to not be able to digest/absorb nutrients properly. Again, this is science fiction. Oxalate toxicity is a real thing, but not from beet pulp, and interfering with digestion and absorption is not one of the effects in any case. Myth: Beet pulp is high in insoluble fiber and poorly digestible. Exactly the opposite is true. It is lower in insoluble fiber than grass/hay, high in soluble fiber and very easily digested in the large intestine by fermentation. Another criticism, that much beet pulp is now from GMO plants, will be addressed in detail in another blog. For now, I just want to address that glyphosate/Roundup residues in sugar made from GMO beets is zero – undetectable. Levels I have seen for the pulp are also extremely low, less than 1 ppm. This is not surprising considering that glyphosate is water soluble and the beets undergo extensive washing and soaking. There will always be horses that do not do well on particular feed ingredients but there is no reason to universally condemn beet pulp. It is an excellent diet addition for most horses. Eleanor Kellon, VMD |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | lurker - 2014-03-07 12:34 AM LRQHS - 2014-03-06 10:39 AM barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 10:37 AM So she quotes something from the 80s She has had 100 clients in 12 YEARS? SERIOUSLY? I'm pretty sure this lady has to have a day job unless she gets like 5-10 G's per client each year Then all the evidence is theory and anecdote I could be like "I put this rock in my horse's stall and no bears have attacked him. The rock must be keeping them away, ermageherd" and that would be just as scientific as her conclusions Alison out That's all I needed to hear! The Scientist has spoken.
Jennifer out.
....man, I messed that all up didn't I? lol |
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 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | Years ago I asked a lady I have always used for nutritional info and she works on my horses too, about beet pulp. She said no don't feed it. She told me about how it was processed and how horses would process it and I never have fed it. I stay with my cob mix of mainly oats and all natural supplements for the best results. So many love feeding so much alfalfa and they think its ok. But so many health issues with that too that people don't correlate with other problems. Such as spurs in the joints because of the calcium over growth. So they run to the vet and have the horses injected over and over again when everything starts with nutrition. Your calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium need to be in proper balance or all heck breaks loose. |
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Article- Is beet pulp toxic?